Explain yourself, AFL tells Roos

NORTH Melbourne remains under fire over its handling of the Lachlan Hansen concussion investigation, with AFL operations boss Adrian Anderson yesterday ordering the Kangaroos to explain their cavalier approach to the inquiry.

North's acting chief executive, Cam Vale, met Anderson and his investigator Brett Clothier yesterday, with the AFL pair spelling out the findings and recommendations from Clothier's report. While the Kangaroos remain hopeful they will escape heavy financial sanctions, the club's wish that the meeting with Anderson would end the saga was dashed when Vale was told to come back to the league with an explanation for the behaviour of some club employees.

North Melbourne medical staff help an injured Lachie Hansen from the ground in round 20. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

The AFL was particularly disenchanted by key members of the club's football department. Another witness who frustrated the AFL was Drew Petrie, who initially proved elusive to investigators and later publicly suggested the AFL ''get on with it''.

Petrie changed his story after giving an interview with the ABC after North's round-20 victory over Essendon. Hansen had left the ground after receiving a heavy knock in the first half, and Petrie told the ABC he had seen Hansen vomiting at half-time. Later he said he had been mistaken.

Petrie failed to return calls from the AFL, claiming it was his day off, and then complained at being summoned to headquarters on the same day as a training session.

North's doctor, Andy McMahon, enlisted legal counsel before meeting Clothier. The club faces a maximum fine of $20,000 if it is found Hansen was sent back to play after being concussed.